BUFFALO, N.Y. — Chellia Watson delivered a standout performance with 23 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, propelling Buffalo to a thrilling 88-84 victory over Troy at Alumni Arena on Saturday. This triumph secured the WNIT championship for Buffalo and marked a new milestone for the program with the most single-season wins.
Buffalo completed their season with a 30-7 record, coming into this game with a five-game postseason winning streak. This impressive run followed their loss to Toledo in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals, culminating in their first-ever WNIT title.
Kirsten Lewis-Williams contributed significantly with 18 points, while Terah Harness added 17 points, including four crucial 3-pointers. Lani Cornfield was also pivotal with 15 points and an impressive 11 assists. Jordyn Beaty delivered a solid performance with 13 points, shooting 6-for-7 from the field.
In a tight contest, Lewis-Williams hit a spinning layup and converted the and-1 free throw to tie the game at 80 with 3:26 on the clock. Brianna Jackson scored 1 of 2 from the line, briefly giving Troy the lead. However, after a missed layup by Lewis-Williams, she retrieved her rebound and fed Harness for a 3-pointer, putting Buffalo ahead 83-81 with just under three minutes remaining. This was the team’s first lead since 6-4 in the opening minutes.
With 1:45 left, Beaty made a crucial steal and drove down the court for a layup, extending Buffalo’s lead to four points. Emani Jenkins kept Troy in the game by hitting three free throws, narrowing the gap to 86-84 with 18 seconds left. Beaty then sank 1 of 2 free throws, and Lewis-Williams stole the ball, icing the game with another free throw as time expired.
For Troy, Zay Dyer led with 15 points and a remarkable 17 rebounds, marking her 18th double-double of the season. The game was Troy’s maiden appearance in a postseason championship matchup.
The historic match drew a record crowd of 5,650 fans, turning Alumni Arena into a packed house for the first time in Buffalo’s program history.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Cornfield executed a no-look pass to Harness, who hit a corner 3-pointer, leveling the score at 64. Troy responded quickly with a three-point play from Jackson and a jumper by Fortuna Ngnawo. Further contributing to their advantage, Ashley Baez and Dyer scored consecutive layups, setting the score at 73-67 with just over six minutes remaining.
Buffalo had initially jumped to a 6-0 lead when Cornfield found Beaty for an easy layup. However, Troy countered with a 14-4 rally, finishing with a Shaulana Wagner jumper to lead 14-10 late in the first quarter. By halftime, Troy maintained a 44-34 lead. Both teams were former Mid-Continent Conference rivals from 1993 to 1997.
During the season, Buffalo showcased a dominant home performance, going 18-2 at Alumni Arena, including a narrow 80-78 victory over Troy in their season opener on November 4.